So you think you know all about
the rotten Roman Caesars,
and why these evil emperors are so infamous
to us even to this day?
Think again,
You're going to find out in this video.
We all know the Roman Empire for war and conquest,
and at the heart of its power stood,
after the Republic fell, the emperor as its head.
Many of them are easily recognizable today
for their achievements.
Be those conquests, building programs
or feeding the poor.
However, some of the Caesars were tyrants,
and we associate them with cruelty
or for the madness of their rule.
Power can be powerful and intoxicating.
So, is it any wonder that those who achieve
the ultimate position became so despotic?
We find out in '10 Most Evil Emperors in History':
Rotten Roman Caesars
Tiberius
The second emperor of Rome from 14 to 37 AD,
and grand uncle of Caligula,
another emperor on this list.
Before he ruled he was one of the greatest
Roman generals, who conquered much of the
modern-day Balkans for Rome.
But is now remembered as a dark
and reclusive ruler.
He had to endure marriage to the
first emperor Augustus' daughter Julia,
whilst loving his former wife
and knowing that Julia frequented others.
The death of his son and heir sent him into a
gloomy mood that distanced himself from Rome.
He left administration of the empire
largely to his Praetorian Sejanus.
A corrupt man whose ruthlessness
nearly cost Tiberius his rule.
Before this however came
the poisoning of Germanicus.
The son of his brother Drusus
and natural heir to rule.
His popularity may have been his downfall.
For he was admired by the legions
for conquests in Germany.
Nevertheless, Piso the governor of Syria
was accused and removed.
Seemingly before he could implicate Tiberius.
Tiberius referred to see Sejanus as
'the partner of my labours',
which says much about the undue faith
and power he placed in him.
His soldiers controlling the information
Tiberius received in his
self-imposed exile from Rome.
Sejanus was allowed a free reign to purge
opposition to him from the Senators
and wealthy citizens.
He not only increased his own wealth,
but had Germanicus' wife Agrippina the Elder
and her two sons exiled,
only to lose their lives in suspicious circumstances.
Tiberius' move from Rome to Capri was also said to be
because of his wariness of the political maneuvering
in Rome, and a lingering fear of assassination.
His villa was very secluded.
Particularly difficult to reach and heavily guarded.
The Villa Jovis is also, at least according to Suetonius,
the place where Tiberius engaged in wild debauchery.
Modern historians regard these tales as sensationalized,
but Suetonius' stories at least paint a picture of how
Tiberius was perceived
by the Roman people at this time.
His fears were well-founded.
But it was Sejanus doing the plotting
to overthrow Tiberius.
Sejanus sought to involve families
close to imperial power,
but his plans were thwarted
as somehow Tiberius was informed.
Sejanus was eliminated,
but what followed was shocking,
for Tiberius, in his fury,
through a network of spies sought to purge all
and anyone in Rome in complicity
of any age or background.
Such that bodies were said to litter the streets
before being dragged to the river Tiber.
He ended his life in paranoia.
Leaving administration in the hands of bureaucrats,
and doing nothing to confront barbarian invasions
and the question of his succession.
Thank you for watching.
If you enjoyed watching this video,
please give it a like.
Please subscribe to this channel
for more content like this,
and consider sharing this video with a friend
who also may enjoy watching.